It’s the second and final day of Amazon Prime Day—and there's no better time for travelers to refresh their gear and get a head start on holiday shopping. Prime Big Deal Days returns this year following Amazon's annual July sale, offering shoppers a second chance to save on best-selling tech, luggage, outdoor gear, premium beauty, and of course—must-have travel accessories. The best travel accessories help make the journey on any long-haul flight, cross-country road trip, or transatlantic cruise a smoother one. There's hundreds of cant-miss deals on travel accessories this Prime Day, from supportive neck pillows and lightweight steamers to portable chargers and noise-canceling headphones. We're seeing markdowns on some of our editor's go-to essentials, with discounts as high as 60 percent off. But hurry—these deals only last through tonight, so don't delay adding something to your shopping cart if you see something you like.
My Grandmother's Vera Bradley Tote Is Now My Favorite Travel Bag
20.09.2024 - 18:51 / cntraveler.com / Vera Bradley
When the first of my grandmothers to die did so just over three years ago, I got her Vera Bradley tote bag. It was in the days after her funeral, possibly even the very next day, when cousins from out of town remained in town, that our freshly-widowed grandfather invited all of us over to go through her things together. He rightfully predicted that this would be at once a bonding experience for his far-flung progeny as well as a quick and collaborative way for him to distribute belongings of hers for which he had no use to those who might actually wear rather than merely appreciate them. Nobody could be upset, nobody could say, “Hey, where’s that Chanel jacket?” or harumph, “I didn’t get anything I wanted,” if we all did it together.
The thing about my grandmother is that she was a very small woman—her middle name, aptly, was Bird. We often joked, and then feared as she got older and frailer and sicker, that she might blow away in a strong gust of wind. She was intrepid in spirit—a school principal and then president of my hometown’s Board of Education—and intrepidly stylish, her red hair always immaculately coiffed and contrasted deliciously by some pop of color or another. She loved blue. This closet burst with clothing that was as fabulous and well-made as it was small, and it soon became clear that most of her garments could be taken and worn only by the sveltest of my cousins—there was one suede and shearling trench that I could have deluded myself into snagging but it was tight at the shoulders and would never fit over more than one light and skintight layer. The beautiful thing about a tote bag is that no shoulder is too big or small.
My choice of the quilted Vera Bradley bag was a dejected one, a “well, I guess I’ll take this.” It was one of a handful of bags I left with like a squirrel, just so that I could say I got something. It was actually part of a set with the matching makeup kit and the like going to my sister. I admit, I moved from Connecticut to New York City and did not use it for years. Vera Bradley is loaded for many, ubiquitous but increasingly disdained as my formative years progressed for its girly garishness—mention the name and expect a scoff or other strong reaction in the negative. The uniformly bold patterns clashed and were therefore ugly, I for one felt strongly in this and I was not alone. And while the bags were preppy in spirit, they weren’t quite so in appearance. Cringe that can't be categorized. What to do with Vera Bradley in the roaring 2020s?
Things changed in March. I was packing for a trip to Italy. My usual personal item, a canvas tote, seemed a sad and uninspired companion, one that I wanted to leave in college. Not to mention that this was a big trip, seven
100+ Best Prime Day Luggage Deals of 2024: Save Up to 70% Off Now
Amazon Prime Day is coming to an end. Today is the last day that travelers will be able to score on heavily discounted luggage pieces across the site, so if you're looking to gift a luggage set to a budding traveler, need a spacious weekender for an upcoming bachelorette, or you want to treat yourself to a new work tote after securing that promotion—this is your last chance to do so. We've been keeping track of the deals and seeing significant markdowns on suitcases, luggage sets, luggage tags, backpacks, and totes from some of our favorite brands—Samsonite, Delsey, and Vera Bradley included. Discounts range from 15 to 70 percent off, with your pick of weekenders, backpacks, tote bags, hard-shell, and soft-sided luggage. Along with luggage and bags, we've included some must-have travel accessories to throw into your backpack or tote bag to make life on the road a breeze and keep your luggage in tip-top shape. Below, we've rounded up 105 Amazon luggage deals that you won't want to miss.
Travel Advisor Success Story: Sheryl Clarke-Dawkins, Dawkhouse Travel
Cheryl Clarke-Dawkins. (Photo Credit: Sheryl Clarke-Dawkins)
TravelPulse Podcast: Emerging Travel Destinations and Experiences
Welcome back to another episode of the TravelPulse Podcast!
State of Travel 2024: New Growth Phase, India's Rise
2024 marks a new era for the travel industry beyond the depths of Covid-19 and the volatility of the post-pandemic world. Skift Research’s State of Travel 2024 brings you 350+ insights into the current state of travel, consumer behavior, and sector-specific trends.
90 Best Amazon Prime Day Luggage Deals: Delsey, Samsonite, Baggallini, & More
Amazon's second Prime Day of the year has officially begun. Through October 9, travelers will be able to take advantage of some great deals. The best Amazon luggage deals are coming in strong, so if you're looking to upgrade your suitcase for upcoming holiday travel or want to gift a new set to a budding traveler—this is the perfect time to do so. Discounts range from 15 to 70 percent off, with your pick of weekenders, backpacks, tote bags, hard-shell, and soft-sided luggage. Along with luggage and bags, we've included some must-have travel accessories to throw into your backpack or tote bag to make life on the road a breeze. This year, we’re seeing big markdowns on suitcases, luggage sets, luggage tags, backpacks, and totes from some of our favorite brands—Samsonite, Delsey, and Vera Bradley included. Below, we've rounded up 90 Amazon luggage deals that you won't want to miss.
Our Favorite Travel Accessories Are Discounted for Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day is here once more—and there's no better time of year for travelers to refresh their gear and get a head start on holiday shopping. Prime Big Deal Days returns this year following Amazon's annual July sale, offering shoppers a second chance to save on best-selling tech, luggage, outdoor gear, premium beauty, and of course—must-have travel accessories. The best travel accessories help make the journey on any long-haul flight, cross-country road trip, or transatlantic cruise a smoother one. There's hundreds of cant-miss deals on travel accessories this Prime Day, from supportive neck pillows and lightweight steamers to portable chargers and noise-canceling headphones. We're seeing markdowns on some of our editor's go-to essentials, with discounts as high as 60 percent off. But hurry—these deals only last through tomorrow, October 9, so don't delay adding something to your shopping cart if you see something you like.
Can India’s New Tourism Push Close the Gap in Inbound Travel?
In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia is joined by Saniya Zanpure, research analyst at Skift, to explore India’s inbound tourism landscape. Last month, the Indian government announced initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, including offering 100,000 free visas. Despite surging outbound travel, inbound recovery has been slower, making these measures critical. Catch them discuss factors behind this disparity, such as safety concerns, visa issues, and infrastructure challenges, as well as untapped opportunities to enhance India’s appeal.
Skift Travel Health Index: Where the Growth Is, August 2024
Despite looming recession fears, the travel industry continues to demonstrate strong growth, according to the Skift Travel Health Index for August 2024. The index showed a 9% increase from a year ago, led by the Asia Pacific region (up 13%) and North America (up 8%).
These 2 Airlines Are Now Part of TSA PreCheck
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is once again expanding its TSA PreCheck program by adding two more international airlines.
Targeted Chase cardholders can save $100 through Chase Travel
If you're a Chase cardmember, check the offers section of your account. You may have been targeted with a generous new travel promotion offering $100 back when you spend $500 or more on Chase Travel℠.
This Lesser-Known Region of Germany Is Home to a Dreamy Island on the Baltic Sea
Germany’s got a big secret: It’s got islands. And not the rocky, desolate, and uninhabited kind, but islands with miles of sandy beaches, picturesque cliffs, peaceful, protected forests, and seaside luxury hotels. The Germans obviously are in the know, and because of their geographical locations, the Dutch and Danes are, too. But nobody else in in the world seems to remember that Germany has a coastline on both the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, let alone that this coastline is peppered with dozens of islands. The biggest of all the German islands is Rügen in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, itself a wildly underrated area. While Rügen takes a little effort to get to, the trip is hardly insurmountable, and travelers who want to see Germany away from the big urban centers, internationally known beer festivals, and packed tourist attractions would be remiss to pass on it.